Every wonder how tech startups, academic R&D labs, and small businesses get those lucrative military contracts? You’re not alone: communicating with the DoD can seem daunting for civilian-owned companies and private-sector entrepreneurs trying to land defense contracts.
That’s why the Air Force created their Science & Technology Front Door, a website that lets civilian scientists and entrepreneurs connect with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) inside the Air Force Research Laboratoy (AFRL).
communicating with the DoD can seem daunting for civilian-owned companies and private-sector entrepreneurs trying to land defense contracts.
The AFRL is sort of like NASA, but for the Air Force. It covers a wide range of developmental specialties like propulsion, materials, software, hardware–pretty much anything a modern warfighter would need. And even though they’re staffed by some of the best and brightest minds in the nation, tech innovation can come from anywhere: startups, university technology programs, small businesses and even large businesses that don’t realize their products could have military applications.
tech innovation can come from anywhere: startups, university technology programs, small businesses and even large businesses that don’t realize their products could have military applications.
By submitting information on your technical specialty at airforcetechconnect.org, you’ll potentially be notified when DoD contracts-for-bid appear that match your expertise. They use machine-learning algorithms to match your specialization with open and upcoming opportunites, and when they find a match, you’re connected with an Air Force project manager or Air Force SME that can take your application to the next stage of development.
They use machine-learning algorithms to match your specialization with open and upcoming opportunites
The short answer is this: the Air Force is ALWAYS looking for science and technology expertise from civilians. All you have to do is let them know your concentration, and they’ll find the perfect match for your expertise!